Alaska Marine Highway
Dear Editor: The Alaska Marine Highway System is at a critical juncture. Since its first port of call, the Alaska Marine Highway has provided substantial economic growth and improved quality of life for Alaskans. It has become a vital socio-economic engine even more now than when it was conceived half a century ago. We cannot afford to lose this transportation corridor for Alaska.
However, we must acknowledge that the state can no longer afford to pay for the current system and outdated management model. Our legislators must understand the economic necessity provided by the Marine Highway while Southeast Conference and coastal Alaska work with the governor’s office, legislators and Alaska’s Department of Transportation to determine measures that are needed to make changes.
There is no question that the Alaska Marine Highway System needs a major overhaul. It operates in an environment with market, political and operational challenges unlike anywhere else in the world. Its service mandate is broad; its markets are small and diverse. Success over the long-term will require a carefully crafted combination of management, operations and funding strategies. Any new system will take significant time to develop and fully implement.
As time erodes so do the options and the chance to act in a deliberate and thoughtful way. Our hope is that the Legislature will recognize the efforts of the many citizens working hard to improve our highway and provide enough time and funding to design and implement a new operating model to address the current day obstacles.
Southeast Conference is taking active steps to update the system into a responsive and predictable marine highway which will transcend political and administration shifts; a system that will partner with communities and have shared responsibility and accountability for the success or failure of that system. If a viable, long-term plan and a governance structure were put in place to carry out that plan, I believe there would be the trust necessary to define funding and service in a manner that can be agreed upon by Alaskans.
A shift in thinking about the marine highway; changes in its governing structure, and – above all – a reliable long-term strategic plan, are what we at Southeast Conference seek for our state, its people, and the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Shelly Wright
Southeast Conference,
Executive Director
Pacific Learning Center
Dear Editor: The Pacific Learning Center would like to thank people, public entities, and businesses within our community that have, in some way, contributed to our school these past months. Thanks to their generosity as well as time, our children have had the opportunity to benefit from great enriching experiences.
On an almost weekly basis, the Pioneers Home has opened their doors to our preschools. They sing, play games, and socialize with the residents. The Pioneers Home front lawn provides an amazing, clean space for our children to enjoy some outdoor play.
The Sitka Fire Department came to our school to talk about fire safety. They brought goodies and allowed our students to explore their fire engine. During a sunny day stroll around town, our toddlers were invited to tour the fire station as well as their fire engine. The Sitka Lutheran Church invited our preschoolers to enjoy a private organ concert.
The Sitka Sentinel gave our preschoolers a tour of their facilities. The Kettleson Memorial Library and Old Harbor Books hosted fun and interactive story times. The First Presbyterian Food Bank donated to-go snacks used during outings. The nice ladies at The Cellar gifted our school with tons of big boxes which provided for hours of imaginary play; the boxes were boats, buses, cars, planes, and houses.
They also donated a big toy dinosaur that has also provided tons of playtime fun. Finally, we would like to thank our parents for allowing us to care for their children and making this a great year.
The Pacific Learning Center Staff
Christmas Tree
Dear Editor: Alaskans came together in a year-long effort to provide the first tree from Alaska to stand tall as the “People’s Tree.” The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree currently gracing the West Lawn of our nation’s Capitol traveled over 4,400 miles from the Chugach National Forest by land and sea by the generosity of Alaskans who provided everything from ornaments to cranes to trucks, and many months of their time and care. You can see the labor of love Alaskans shared in the thousands of ornaments on the tree that were made out of recyclable materials and creative flair from people across the state.
I would like to recognize the many Alaskans who made this undertaking possible and show my appreciation for the beautiful result. Thank you to the children, students and community members who for the past year joined in this effort by showing your pride for Alaska in making such beautiful and unique ornaments. Thank you to all the artists who created ornament designs that were used as inspiration. I want to extend my gratitude to the groups and individuals who created Alaska-themed tree skirts for the smaller companion trees from the Tongass that are proudly placed in offices throughout the Capitol, including my own. Additionally, I want to thank the individuals and businesses that partnered in this effort with the U.S. Forest Service to showcase Alaska and our tremendous resources. It was no small task and these efforts do not go unnoticed.
It is an incredible honor that our state provided the U.S. Capitol with its Christmas tree this year. Our 74-foot Lutz spruce shines brightly as a beacon of the holiday spirit for our nation and Alaska takes up no small part of that spotlight.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Bicycle Riding
Dear Editor: If you know someone trying to get themselves wrecked biking on the wrong side of the road dressed like a ninja: please, educate them.
Bikers should dress in hi-vis and/or reflective clothing, and have bike lights, and, for-the-love-of-god, bike on the right-hand side of the road. If we can only do one of these things, at least biking on the right side of the road would keep the idiots from crashing into those of us who are trying to bike intelligently out there.
It’s good for drivers, too, since not many people expect someone to come along doing 10-20 mph in the wrong direction, and it’s going to be a real pain cleaning their face off the hood of the car. No one wants to deal with this mess after a long day at work, so spread the word: bike on the right, and dress bright.
William The Giant, Sitka
